This week we’ve had some new arrivals. first was this lovely red Dexter heifer. born just before dark so the picture is of my son in the dark with my husband holding the flashlight.

Then we had some lambs.

This morning it was Chrissy’s turn. My hubby was going to feed the bottle lambs when he fount them. Lamb was up and dry. No problem bringing them in till Chrissy saw the bottles lying on the ground and was more interested in trying to get a drink then going in the pen with her lamb. Once a bottle lamb always a bottle lamb. she was to busy nibbling my coat to get in the picture herself.

I also washed some wool mostly it is still yucky with to much chaff in it. The brown looks ok and some of the white I can cut the curls from the felted base. The rest will end up as mulch. Free fleece is seldom usable fleece.

Greetings from the NW corner of the USA ~ I find the free fleece, matted and full of VM, extremely useful. I like felting it for matts for baby trees and tomato plants about 3/8 – 1/2 inch, sometimes I like adding a sandwichy type layer of Llama manure inbetween for adding a fertilzing element to it too if it would be helpful ( tomatoes). One could also add other things like moss or straw for more water retention and mulch debris after about 2+ years.

So I must humbly disagree with the hosts quote! Happy Spring from here!
Cheers, Jamie

Congrats on your new arrivals! That has to be such a thrill to have newborn animals and to be able to nurture them and see them grow. Maybe you could train those new lambs to produce usable fleece. LOL

It is nice to see them arrive and grow up healthy and happy. To get usable fleece you need to put coats on them and each sheep need 3 to 4 coat over the season. Its a money and time commitment. one I hope to get to at some point.

Lovely photos and I love your comment about finding time to felt by not doing housework (same here)! Our first lambs were born just a few hours ago. Two increadibly sweet, white fluffy creatures. Being our first lambing, I am happy to report that all went well, mothering instincts are good and the new mother has milk. 🙂

Thank you. Zara and congratulation on your arrivals. I really enjoy the sheep. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking but there is so much joy as well. You cant be house proud when you have lambs in the living room getting warm.

Great photos, Ann 🙂
It’s a shame the wool isn’t usable for felting. I had no idea you could use it for mulch, and Jamie’s comment made me wonder if the stuff we see called ‘horticultural fleece’ for wrapping tender plants in Winter originally was made from wool?

But would you be able to make a lightweight piece of felt that might be suitable? I know water damage or frost damage from water getting into the centre of some plants can be a worry, with real wool there’s water resistance too.